Refrigerating showcase



1,690,485 M. J. GOALSTQNE REFRIGERATING SHOWCASE Nqv. 6, 1928.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 9, 1925 INVENTOR. J{.J G0a16Zorc@ J; ammm A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 6, 1928.

M. J. GOALSTONE REFRIGERATING SHOWCASE Filed March 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rill la a I N VEN TOR. W. J GoaZsforze TORNEY.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

- PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. GOALS'IONE, 01 DENVER, COLORADO.

' nararcnna'rme SHOWCASE.

\ vApplication filed larch 9,1925, Serial No. 14,699.

This invention relates to refrigerating showcases of thetype used in butcher shops, meat markets and other retail establishments for the safe storage and attractive displa of perishable merchandise.

It is an object of'the invention to provide in a showcase of the above described character, an insert for the support of a weighing scale, which neither interferes with the storage of the perishable commodities, nor reduces the capacity of the display space and which moreover disposes the scale so as to be readily accessible to the salesmen behind the showcase without protruding and obstructing parts.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the display compartment of the showcase so as to afford a clear view of its contents at any angle and from any point of vision; another object is to provide an improved method of refrigeration by the use of a cooling medium rearward of the display compartment of the showcase; still another object resides in disposing the showcase proper relative to its base and constructing the latter so that both the customers in front of the showcase and the salesmen behind the same have ample foot room in approaching the case for the inspection or removal of its contents.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of closing-means for the display compartment of the showcase which are readily moved or removed to afford access to the contents thereof, and still other objects reside in details of construction and in a novel arrangement and combinations of parts as will fully appear in the course of the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings in which like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 represents a perspective frontview of my improved showcase;

Figure 2, a vertical section taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3, a perspective view of one of the ice-bunkers constituting the refrigerating element of the case in its preferred and simplest form;

Figure 9, an enlarged vertical section showing the construction and posit-ion of the front wall of the refrigerating compartment of the showcase, by which it is separated from the display compartment of the same, the section being taken on the plane of that shown in Figure 2; and

Figure 10, an underneath View of one of J the shelves that cover the refrigerating compartment of the showcase, drawn to a reduced scale.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, my improved refrigerating showcase comprises a base or bottom section 5 and a topsection 6 removably supported upon the other.

The base-section which is closed at its front and sides and open at the back of the case provides a convenient space for the disposition of lard tubs, paper trays, wrapping paper, coats and other articles which are unsightly if exposed to the View of customers.

The base-section is preferably built of sheet steel covered at the outside of thecase with baked white porcelain enamel and fastened in a frame of wood.

The frame includes foot-boards 7 extending around the entire section for its support on the floor and the board at the rear of the section is recessed as at 8 for the purpose of permitting the salesmen to stand close to the showcase for access to the displayed merchandise.

The base-section of the case is of lesser width than the top section so that the latter overhangs the bottom section at the front of the case as shown at 9 in the drawings, to aland a refrigerating compartment12 by a vertical partition or bafiie board 13 here; inafter to be described in detail.

The bottom of the top-section is composed of a creosoted flooring 14, a heavy layer 15' of cork-board between thicknesses of refrigerating paper, and a steel top-sheet 16 which is enameled at its upper side. The bottom thus constructed effectively insulates the interior of the section of which it is a part, from the atmosphere.

The sides 17 of the top-section are made partially of glass and partially of insulated wood, the front wall of the section consists of a single plate of glass 18 and the top of the.

same is composed of a late of glass 19 supported on the front-wal 18, a pair of shelves 20 adjoining the rear wall 24: of the case and a slanting frame 21 between the top-plate and the shelves, includin the scale insert 22 and providing a support 'or the sliding doors 23 which afford access to the display compartment.

The rear-wall 24 as well as the shelves 20 of the section are made of wood insulated by layers of non-conductive material and the frame 21 is composed of two beams 25 and 26 extending lengthwise of the section and two pairs of cross-pieces which define the openings normally closed by the doors 23.

The space between the openings of the frame is occupied by the scale-insert 22 which consists of an open box or recess made up of a perpendicular front wall 22 fastened at its upper edge to the upper longitudinal beam 21 of the frame, a horizontal floor 22 supported on the lower beam 26 of the same and extending rearWardly between the shelves and sides 22 which terminate in the plane of the frame. Abracket 27 extending forward of the partition 13 inside the case provides an additional support for the floor of the insert.

The insert is of suficient depth and width to contain a weighing scale of standard construction as indicated in broken lines in Figure 1 without protruding into the aisle back of the showcase, and inasmuch as it is elevated above the floor of the case in horizontal alinement with the top of the refrigerating compartment and occupies but a small portion of the length of the display compartment, its presence neither reduces the capacity of the case nor interferes in anyway with the advantageous display of the merchandise or its removal through the openings in the frame 21.

Each of the openings is normally closed by two or moredoors 23 which slide one upon another and are loosely supported in the frame so that they ma be separately removed and'replaced wi out adjustment of fastening or retaining means.

The side walls 17 of the top-section of the case are as stated before, made partially. of glass, the single glass plate 18 constituting the front of the section slants rearwardly and the plate 19 which closes the top of the section forward of the slanting frame is supported upon the edges of the front and side plates and upon the upper longitudinal beam 21 of the frame.

The front plate is to this end mitered at its upper edge as best shown in Figure 7 and the joints between the several plates are rendered air-tight by strips of felt 28 coated with a suitable cement.

The felt also functions as a cushion to avoid breakage of the glass by expansion, sudden jars or uneven or heavy pressure and the joints thus produced have the added advantage of aifording a substantially unobstructed view of the entire contents of the case from every angle.

The shelves 20 of the section below the slanting frame, which together with the floor of the scale insert, form the top of the refrigerating compartment, are composed of a body part 20 made up of strips of hardwood rigidly joined together as shown in Figure 8, a dishedmetal bottom sheet 20 which is fastened at the underside of the wooden body part, and a filling 20 of insulating material in the space between the body part and the bottom sheet 20. 7

The dished part of the bottom sheetfits in the openings of the case that are closed by the shelves and rubber gaskets 28 placed between the shelves and the edges of the walls on which they are supported make the joints air tight.

The partition 13 which constitutes the front wall of the refrigerating compartment is composed of a frame 13, mirrors 13 set in the face thereof and a filler 13 of insulating material between the mirrors and the frame.

The partition is spaced from the top of the refrigerating compartment to provide a passage 29 for the escape of warm air from the display compartment and it adjoins at its lower edges, a slanting rack 30 composed of spaced and interconnected slats, and supported in the bottom of the section by means of cross-sills 33.

A guard-strip 32 extending above the forward edge of the rack protects the front plate of the frame contact with the merchandise in the showcase The refrigerating element in the compartment 10 of the case, consists in the illustrated form of the invention, of a plurality of ice bunkers 31 of hexagonal section having refill-o enings 31 at their ends. The bunkers t us formed provide a-maximum ice capacity and refrigerating surface, considering the limited dimensions of the compartment in which they are contained, and the refrigerated air passes from the compartment into i the space between the bottom and the rack of the display compartment and thence upwardly through the spaces of therack to return to the refrigerating compartment through the space 29 above the partition as indicated by t e arrows in Fi 'ure 2.

- The surface of-the floor 9 0 the section is lower in the refrigerating compartment than in the display compartment to prevent water leaking from the ice bunkers, from flowing into the display compartment, a pipe having been provlded to drain the water from the refrigerating compartment as is usual in showcases of this type. v

Having thus described the construction of my improved refrigerating showcase, it will be apparent that it combines with an attractive appearance and simplicity of construction, great practicability in use.

The construction of thewalls of thedisplay compartment affords an unobstructed view of the contents thereof from every angle, the separated refrigeratlng compartment and the form of the ice-contamers provide for a continuous refrigeration of circulating air with a minimum consumption of ice and the partition which separates the two. compartments furthermore revents direct contact of the displayed merc andise with the ice containers and provides a reflecting surface ghiclh greatly enhances the appearance of the isp ay. i I

The scale insert provides a convenient place for the wei hing scale without obstructing the aisle behind the showcase or'in any other way interfering with the actions-of the salesmen. A c

The loose sliding doors are easil removed when lar e openings are require ing or re lllng the case, the overhang of the upper section at the front .of the case and the recess at the bottom of the lower section at the rear of the same allow both customers and salesmen to closely approach the case without stubbing the feet and the peculiar insulating in cleanconstructionof the parts of the upper section of the case and the joints between them aid in maintaining a low temperature in the refrigq eratin apparatus with a minimum consumptiono 10c.

a It is to be understood that while the refrig ran ed within the contour thereof and exten ing inwardly from the rear of the same in spaced relation to the floor thereof and open at t e top and back to provide an exteriorly open space for a weighing scale.

2. A refrigerator showcase comprising a glass enclosed display compartment of taperingformation, and a tapering insert conforming to the configuration of the adjacent por- 1 tions of the. display compartment and arranged within the contour thereof and extending inwardly from the rear of the same in spaced relation to the floorthereof and open at the top and back to provide an exteriorly open space for a Wei hing scale, said insert comprism a vertical ront wall, vertical side walls, and a horizontal bottom.

3. A refrigerator showcase comprising a lass enclosed dis lay compartment unbro-.

en in longitudina extent, and an insert ex-' tending inwardlyat the rear of the compartment and arranged within and conforming to the contour thereof, said insert beingspaced from the'floor of the display compartment.

and open at the top and backto provide an exteriorly open space for a weighing scale and comprising front and side walls and a hori zontal bottom. y In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

MICHAEL J. GoALs'roNn'. 

